49ers’ Garoppolo on much-discussed date: ‘It is a good learning experience’

Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on Nov. 5, 2017 in Santa Clara. Garoppolo opened up about his date with adult film actress Kiara Mia last week. less

Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on Nov. 5, 2017 in Santa Clara. Garoppolo opened up about his date with adult film actress ... more

Photo: Lachlan Cunningham, Getty Images

Photo: Lachlan Cunningham, Getty Images

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Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on Nov. 5, 2017 in Santa Clara. Garoppolo opened up about his date with adult film actress Kiara Mia last week. less

Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on Nov. 5, 2017 in Santa Clara. Garoppolo opened up about his date with adult film actress ... more

Photo: Lachlan Cunningham, Getty Images

49ers’ Garoppolo on much-discussed date: ‘It is a good learning experience’

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Sports journalism history wasn’t made Wednesday: No reporter used the phrase “porn star” when posing questions to an NFL quarterback or head coach.

Unfortunately, though, for Jimmy Garoppolo, the subject of his date heard around the World Wide Web — last week’s meeting with adult-film actress Kiara Mia in Los Angeles — was a topic of discussion and even some amusement.

The first question posed to Garoppolo seemed light enough — “What have you been up to?” — but it was actually loaded and drew a few chuckles from reporters.

All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman, 30, perhaps one of the few players who has the stature to publicly tease the dashing marquee QB, slipped in a playful jab when asked about getting to know Garoppolo since he signed in March.

“We talk about a lot,” Sherman said. “We talk about the strengths and weaknesses of certain defenses. Passes that he likes. People that he likes to take on dates.”

Even head coach Kyle Shanahan smiled while he feigned ignorance about Garoppolo’s headline-inspiring dinner (“I never heard anything about those articles. What are you talking about?”) and explained that he had limits on how far he’d go with the subject.

“I’ve never in my life commented on a player’s date in July, so I’m not going to start today,” Shanahan said. “I don’t think it really pertains or matters to us.”

Of course, Shanahan is right: Garoppolo’s choice of dinner companion figures to have zero effect on the 49ers’ 2018 season, which began Wednesday with players reporting to training camp in Santa Clara.

For Garoppolo, however, the reaction served as the latest and probably biggest reminder that he’s no longer Tom Brady’s relatively anonymous backup.

Since he was traded from the Patriots to 49ers last year, Garoppolo has achieved rock-star status, a $137.5 million contract and, yes, attention from TMZ cameras, which also chronicled him with a female companion outside a San Jose nightclub in May.

So what has Garoppolo learned from the reaction that came after he publicly met with Mia?

“Just that life is different now — my life off the field,” Garoppolo said. “I’ve never been very big on being really public with things — even social media. I’m not out there a ton. But my life is looked at differently. I’m under a microscope. It’s like Kyle said: It is a good learning experience. I just have to take it in stride.”

Indeed, Shanahan did turn serious at one point and noted last week’s date was part of Garoppolo’s education after graduating from second-stringer to star in record time.

“Jimmy came from a place where he saw a lot of people handle that spotlight and everything,” Shanahan said, referring to Garoppolo’s four seasons with the Patriots. “So I think Jimmy does have an idea.

“I think everybody has an idea of how you should handle that spotlight, but not everyone’s in that spotlight. ... You know, sometimes you have to learn how under the microscope we all are under. It’s not just the quarterback, it’s all players, (but) the quarterback definitely gets more than anyone else. But I think that’s a good learning experience for him. He’s got to know what comes with that stuff.”